Learn how word endings reveal who performs an action—and who receives it.
◷ 22 min▥ Beginner♧ Core lesson
Day5of 100
Lesson Video
▶
Day 5 lesson video
The Ending Reveals the Role
In English, position often controls meaning. In Arabic, the ending can preserve the role even when position changes.
ـُ / ـٌSubjectWho does the actionـَ / ـًObjectWho receives itـِ / ـٍAfter a prepositionOr in a linking phrase
نَصَرَ حَبِيبٌ كَرِيمًا
حَبِيبٌ helped كَرِيمًا
Reorder the wordsنَصَرَ كَرِيمًا حَبِيبٌ
حَبِيبٌ still helped كَرِيمًا
Analyse One Complete Sentence
Read the endings before relying on word order.
كَتَبَمُحَمَّدٌرِسَالَةًإِلَى صَدِيقِهِ
VerbHe wroteSubjectMuhammadObjectA letterAfter إِلَىTo his friend
Muhammad wrote a letter to his friend.
See I‘rāb in the Qur’an
Find the ending that identifies each role.
ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًاAllah presents an example · 14:24قَالَ رَبُّكَYour Lord said · 2:30لِلْمَلَائِكَةِTo the angels · 2:30وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَAnd Allah loves the doers of good · 3:134
Reveal the roles
اللَّهُ = who does the actionمَثَلًا = what receives the actionرَبُّكَ = who does the actionالْمَلَائِكَةِ = after لِالْمُحْسِنِينَ = who receives the action
Practice
Use the ending to identify the role.
Continue practising with instant explanations
Academy+ learners receive the complete interactive practice for this lesson.